Returning to familiar worlds

[yendi]

Four recently-read books, all of which returned to literary worlds I like:

Wild Cards: Inside Straight: The last ten years or so of Wild Cards (not counting Deuces Down, which I haven't read yet) have, in all honesty, sucked. A lot. So it's nice to see a fun novel that makes me give a damn about the series again. It helps that much of the used-past-the point-of-interest detritus that had dragged the series down in recent years (Tachyon, Captain Trips, Hartman, etc. -- although only Hartman was ever interesting to begin with) has been discarded, and although that means we also lose some sentimental favorites (Croyd, The Turtle, Popinjay, etc are only barely mentioned), it also allows the series to start fresh. The concept -- a mix of a reality show for superheroes and the effects of superheroes attempting to deal with real world wars and crises -- isn't anything that hasn't been dealt with in comics (you could almost see the various authors thumbing through assorted Warren Ellis titles as they plotted things out), but the writing and characters are all solid, and there's not a poorly-written story in the bunch. The writing of Daniel Abraham and Carrie Vaughn, in particular, impressed me.

Before They are Hanged. In almost any other year, I'd be cheering for Joe Abercrombie to win the Campbell. But he's up against Scott Lynch, who's just a smidge better. But if you like Lynch's works, you'll also like Abercrombie's, which are filled with broken (in a good way) characters, flawed "heroes," nasty happenings, and tons of violence. This is the sort of series that renews my love of heroic fantasy (and as a bonus, it's free of elves and rogues). I want the third book now, please.

Star Trek: Klingon Empire: A Burning House. Don't let the title fool you: this is an I.K.S. Gorkon novel, even if almost none of the scenes take place on the ship (thanks to shore leave). kradical weaves stories following all of the major characters, and nicely ties up some of the story threads he picked up from the TNG episode "Birthright." I've mentioned before that kradical is one of the only current Trek writers I read, and this series is why. The Final Reflection remains my favorite Klingon stand-alone novel, but I love what DeCandido has done to develop the world and the characters. Bonus points here for having Dax get a (verbal) bitchslap over something s/he's gotten away with for years.

Poison Sleep. Written by tim_pratt's initialed alter-ego, T.A. Pratt, this novel returns Marla Mason to her home city of Feldport (which we'd only seen previously in a short story), and gives us a nice mix of internal politics, otherworldly creatures, and fun characters. The primary difference between Pratt's work and most contemporary "urban fantasy" (a term that seems to have narrowed from the days when it could include the works of someone like Charles de Lint, who writes fantasy works set in the city; it now seems to be the catchphrase for the post-LKH rush) is that it's actually good, although I'd be lying if I said that any of Pratt's novels have entranced me the way stories like, "Little Gods," "Hart and Boot," and "Impossible Dreams" have done. Still, the Marla Mason books are a blast, and the concepts Pratt plays with here (which I won't talk about much right now for spoiler reasons) are fascinating.

All four books are highly recommended, although they benefit from reading the previous works in their respective series.

Comments

[lurkerwithout.livejournal.com]

You're very right about Abercrombie vs. Lynch. Its been a very damn couple of years for down in dirt AND epic in feel fantasy I'd say. Abercrombie, Lynch, Butcher's straight fantasy series and Keyes have all impressed me a lot. I'm especially pleased with the two rookies though. They both came from nowhere to knock it out of the park...

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

KRad is tied for first place of my favorite Trek authors (with Peter David). His stuff is just DAMNED GOOD.

And he's a really nice guy, too.

And now I'm gonna have to get Wild Cards, too. Damn you. Damn you all to hell. ^_^

[pixelfish.livejournal.com]

I'm having reading block issues with Scott Lynch's Lies of Locke Lamora. Since this has happened before with perfectly worthy and wonderful books, I superstitiously assume it's just not time for this book to dwell in my brain-universe.

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

I gave up on Wild Cards about a decade ago, perhaps I shall pick that one up.

[ghost-light.livejournal.com]

I have the last Wild Cards novel but I haven't got around to reading it yet. I can feel the suck radiating from my bookcase as I type this. It's good to hear the series is finally on an upswing again.

[kradical.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

FWIW, the reason for the name change was in order to bring in new readers, as the third Gorkon book didn't sell so hot. *sigh* With luck, making the title something a bit more recognizable to the average Trek viewer might help goose the numbers a hair.


Bonus points here for having Dax get a (verbal) bitchslap over something s/he's gotten away with for years.

Hee! Thanks. I was quite proud of that bit....

[kradical.livejournal.com]

Awwww, shuck'ems. Thanks, man. *blush*

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

Of course, the fact that you're a nice guy actually MAKES people want to read your stuff even more. The fact that you're a DAMNED GOOD WRITER (tm) just makes it that much better!

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

I'll have to check WIld Cards out; I haven't followed it steadily since the Astronomer went West.

Wild Cards

[greatcalvero.livejournal.com]

I just finished "Inside Straight" the other day. I really liked it. I too was impressed with Abraham.

Thanks for mentioning that 10-year cycle of suck. I'd been thinking about tracking down the rest of the series. Nice to know that there's some books I can avoid.

[rantmaster.livejournal.com]

I forget: what was Dax called to task over? I'm not remembering this part.

Personally, I find myself pleased that KRAD has found a number of satisfactory endings for many many un-Klingon acts that Worf has committed over the years. Of course, I have to have sympathy for the guy...he's bridged two very different cultures, and never been wholely satisfied with either. It's a good thing he's back on the Enterprise, cause that's where he really belongs. And he knows it.

[cissa.livejournal.com]

I like Martin... but the whole "wild cards" thing just doesn't appeal to me. I;ve read a few, and- meh. This is probably because I did npt read comics growing up, etc.- but the whole dichotomy between "aces" and "jokers" seems pretty damn arbitrary; defects of their virtues and virtues of their defects is rather a touchstone for me, and the WC universe seems to ignore that.

Plus, in general I fond superheroes annoying and boring. Even if apparently well-written.

*shrug* But that's me.

[lurkerwithout.livejournal.com]

Also, the third Abercrombie book is out, at least in the UK. My roommate just got a copy of it from Amazon UK yesterday afternoon and he was taunting me with it...